Major Art Modality Utilized: Visual Art and Creative Movement

1. SUBJECT AREA/ SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL: Letter Critters Language Arts and Creative Movement and Visual Art-Kindergarten Page 1 of 2 Standards Addressed in this Lesson: ELAKR3 b. Recognizes and names all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet. ELAKLSV1 The student uses oral and visual skills to communicate. The student d. Recites short poems, rhymes, songs, and stories with repeated patterns. VAKMC.1 Engages in the creative process to generate and visualize ideas. Major Art Modality Utilized: Visual Art and Creative Movement Multiple Intelligences Addressed: Visual/Spatial and Kinesthetic Lesson Abstract: Students will create Letter Critters. They will shape their body and move like their letter as they recite the Alphabet song. Materials Needed: precut letters out of construction paper, glue, markers/crayons, google eyes, 8 x 12” drawing paper • Procedures: • Begin class with the BrainDance (see resources). • Students will say their name and the letter their name begins with as the teacher hands out their letters. Students will brainstorm ideas for letter critters; for example a ‘c’ could become a sea horse or an ‘x’ could become an ‘x’ man. • Students glue their letter to their paper and draw details and add google eyes. If desired yarn and other extras may be offered. • As students work they are asked; “Imagine that you were were magically turned into your letter critter. How would you stand? How would you move?” Students who work quickly may create an additional letter critter. • The next step works best if an open place is available for students to sit together on the floor. When students are ready they are instructed to sing an ‘Alphabet Song’. As they sing their letter they are to stand up like their letter and to make their body look like their letter. Students then sing the song again and this time they may move as their letter critter would move if it were alive.

2. SUBJECT AREA/ SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL: Letter Critters Language Arts and Creative Movement and Visual Art-Kindergarten Page 2 of 2 • Standards Addressed in this Lesson (cont.): • VAKMC.2 Formulates personal responses. • a. Generates visual images by manipulating art materials. • DKCR.2 Demonstrates an understanding of dance as a way to create and communicate meaning • a. Improvises movement based on own ideas, feelings, concepts, and kinesthetic awareness • Area for Teacher Notes: • Peer tutoring may be utilized for those students who hesitate. Fellow classmates may be asked to give suggestions on how to stand like a letter or move like a letter critter. Assessment: Students should create a letter critter using their first initial. Students should stand in a shape which represents their letter. Students should sing the letter song. Resources/ Links: Brain Dance http://education.byu.edu/arts/arts_express/documents/AnneGilbert-BYUBrainDance.doc The Alphabet song- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XEN4vtH4Ic A longer new version of an alphabet song- http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_875047&v=TjK1dS64PGM&src_vid=MaMS_of8cKU&feature=iv